Finding the Oasis Centre proved something of a challenge, despite the fact
that this was our second visit having previously been there in November on
which occasion we were informed, much to our chagrin, that the gig had been
postponed. Since we had come all the way from Bristol we were less than
pleased about this, but decided to attend the rescheduled performance rather
than seek a refund.

For the second time of asking Emma and I left the motorway at a different
junction which was a mistake as we found ourselves swallowed up by Swindon’s
myriad roundabouts and leisure complexes. The upshot of this was that by the
time we arrived Libido had already started, and indeed had nearly finished so
I didn’t really get a measure of them.

Rialto followed with a formidable performance and some nice renditions of
recent chart singles, but it was Louise’s feisty presence that we really
awaited. We were rewarded with this soon after 9.30 as the band entered
somewhat sheepishly onto a minimalist set which seemed to lack the trimmings
of the ‘It Girl’ stage which I saw in Gloucester in 1996. The wings consisted
of a few banners down each side, with a flashing neon “Sleeper” sign at the
back. Somewhat tacky in my opinion.

To be honest I can’t remember the first song, which certainly didn’t have the
impact of Dress Like Your Mother in Gloucester when the long riff of a session
guitarist preceded the crashing start of the song proper as the backdrop fell
to the floor revealing the band behind. Immediately I got the impression that
Louise was not really putting her life and soul into it, and after a selection
of songs from Pleased To Meet You, including She’s A Good Girl, Romeo Me and
Superclean, we came to the eponymous Inbetweener which Louise insisted on
performing in that lazy half-singing, half-talking way which I find so
annoying.

Nevertheless, after this things seemed to pick up and we were rewarded with
two more from Smart (Swallow and Vegas - the latter as an encore) as well as
Lie Detector, Sale of the Century, What Do I Do Now?, Nice Guy Eddie and
Statuesque. Disconcertingly absent was anything new, and I do hope that this
isn’t going to be some sort of swansong tour, although her defiant attack at
the end on the derogatory reports in the press lately seemed to quash such
rumours, although it wouldn’t be the first time that a band said they weren’t
splitting shortly before they did.

In summary: an excellent gig, showcasing the marvellous repertoire that
Sleeper’s three albums have built up, and I hope that a fourth album will not
be just a pipe dream.